"
"Ah, Maggie dear, is that you?" The pale oval face turned towards
her.
"You won't be very late, will you?"
"Hadn't I better have a key, not to bother Martha?"
"Oh, Martha won't have gone to bed."
Maggie felt as though her whole evening would be spoilt did she know
that Martha was waiting for her at the end of it.
"Oh, but it will be such a pity--"
"Martha will let you in, dear. Come and kiss me; I hope that you'll
enjoy yourself."
And then the strangest thing happened. Maggie bent down. She felt a
tear upon her cheek and then the thin strong arms held her, for an
instant, in an almost threatening embrace.
"Good-night, dear aunt," she said; but, outside the room, she had to
stand for a moment in the dark passage to regain her control; her
heart was beating with wild unreasoning terror. Although she had
brushed her cheek with her hand the cold touch of the tears still
lingered there.
Outside the house they were free. It looked so close and dark behind
them that Maggie shivered a little and put her arm through her
uncle's.
"That's all right," he said, patting her hand. "We're going to enjoy
ourselves.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257